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| MPs' Iraq vote: Commons passes vote by massive majority to include Britain in strikes against Isis | |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| The prospect of British military action in Syria moved closer tonight after MPs overwhelmingly approved air strikes against Isis targets in Iraq. | The prospect of British military action in Syria moved closer tonight after MPs overwhelmingly approved air strikes against Isis targets in Iraq. |
| Six RAF Tornados will launch attacks within days after the Commons voted by 524 to 43 to approve intervention in Iraq. Some 24 Labour MPs, six Tories and one Liberal Democrat voted against. Rushanara Ali, a Labour education spokeswoman, resigned from the opposition front bench so she could abstain. Iain McKenzie was sacked as a Labour parliamentary aide after voting against. | Six RAF Tornados will launch attacks within days after the Commons voted by 524 to 43 to approve intervention in Iraq. Some 24 Labour MPs, six Tories and one Liberal Democrat voted against. Rushanara Ali, a Labour education spokeswoman, resigned from the opposition front bench so she could abstain. Iain McKenzie was sacked as a Labour parliamentary aide after voting against. |
| Many MPs expressed fears of “mission creep”. But the six-and-a-half-hour emergency debate unexpectedly turned into a heated argument over whether to take military action in Syria as well as Iraq. Several MPs argued that it would be logical to extend air strikes to Syria, pointing out that Isis does not recognise the border between the two countries. | Many MPs expressed fears of “mission creep”. But the six-and-a-half-hour emergency debate unexpectedly turned into a heated argument over whether to take military action in Syria as well as Iraq. Several MPs argued that it would be logical to extend air strikes to Syria, pointing out that Isis does not recognise the border between the two countries. |
| David Cameron gave his clearest sign yet that he would like to join the United States in hitting Isis in Syria. “I am very clear that Isis needs to be destroyed in Syria as well as in Iraq,” he told the Commons. “I believe that there is a strong case for us to do more in Syria.” | David Cameron gave his clearest sign yet that he would like to join the United States in hitting Isis in Syria. “I am very clear that Isis needs to be destroyed in Syria as well as in Iraq,” he told the Commons. “I believe that there is a strong case for us to do more in Syria.” |
| The Prime Minister admitted that Syria was a “more complicated” issue than Iraq, where the new government has formally requested UK military support. But he brushed aside legal doubts about action in Syria. “I do not believe that there is a legal barrier, because I think that the legal advice is clear that were we or others to act, there is a legal basis,” he said. | The Prime Minister admitted that Syria was a “more complicated” issue than Iraq, where the new government has formally requested UK military support. But he brushed aside legal doubts about action in Syria. “I do not believe that there is a legal barrier, because I think that the legal advice is clear that were we or others to act, there is a legal basis,” he said. |
| One method could be for Iraq to request UK help to combat Isis attacks launched from Syria, which could then allow intervention under the United Nations charter. | One method could be for Iraq to request UK help to combat Isis attacks launched from Syria, which could then allow intervention under the United Nations charter. |
| Mr Cameron also kept open the option of authorising emergency action in Syria without first winning the approval of MPs – either to tackle a humanitarian crisis or in Britain’s national interest. But he promised to ask the Commons as soon as possible for retrospective approval. | Mr Cameron also kept open the option of authorising emergency action in Syria without first winning the approval of MPs – either to tackle a humanitarian crisis or in Britain’s national interest. But he promised to ask the Commons as soon as possible for retrospective approval. |
| The motion approved promised MPs a fresh vote before any intervention in Syria. Mr Cameron would probably need Labour’s support to win a majority. A Labour spokesman said: “Without a clear plan for military activity in Syria, we are not giving the Government a blank cheque.” | The motion approved promised MPs a fresh vote before any intervention in Syria. Mr Cameron would probably need Labour’s support to win a majority. A Labour spokesman said: “Without a clear plan for military activity in Syria, we are not giving the Government a blank cheque.” |
| But Ed Miliband is not ruling out action in Syria. He wants an attempt made at the UN to secure approval for action there, but is not making a UN resolution is a condition of his support. He wants Mr Cameron to spell out which countries would send troops to fight in Syria. | But Ed Miliband is not ruling out action in Syria. He wants an attempt made at the UN to secure approval for action there, but is not making a UN resolution is a condition of his support. He wants Mr Cameron to spell out which countries would send troops to fight in Syria. |
| The Labour leader told MPs: “When we are not talking about being invited in by a democratic state, it would be better - I put it no higher than that - to seek a UN Security Council resolution. That is the highest multilateral institution of the world.” | The Labour leader told MPs: “When we are not talking about being invited in by a democratic state, it would be better - I put it no higher than that - to seek a UN Security Council resolution. That is the highest multilateral institution of the world.” |
| Ministers are starting to build a case for a wider campaign against Isis in Syria. Michael Fallon, the Defence Secretary, told BBC Radio 4: “Isis is based in Syria, that's where its headquarters are, that's where its resources, its people are. They have crossed the border into Iraq and to deal with Isis you do have to deal and defeat them in both Iraq and in Syria.” | Ministers are starting to build a case for a wider campaign against Isis in Syria. Michael Fallon, the Defence Secretary, told BBC Radio 4: “Isis is based in Syria, that's where its headquarters are, that's where its resources, its people are. They have crossed the border into Iraq and to deal with Isis you do have to deal and defeat them in both Iraq and in Syria.” |
| He added: “The Prime Minister made it clear to defeat Isis we have to do it in both countries, so the logic follows. But we are not asking Parliament to do that at the moment, we are taking this in a calm, measured way, step by step, but it is clear to us that obviously Isis, in the end, has to be tackled on a broader front.” | He added: “The Prime Minister made it clear to defeat Isis we have to do it in both countries, so the logic follows. But we are not asking Parliament to do that at the moment, we are taking this in a calm, measured way, step by step, but it is clear to us that obviously Isis, in the end, has to be tackled on a broader front.” |
| Several senior MPs spoke in favour of extending action to Syria. Sir Richard Ottaway, the Tory chairman of the Commons foreign affairs select committee, said: “The border between Syria and Iraq has virtually disappeared. It is a seamless conflict over two countries covering thousands of miles and presenting a vulnerability in Isis’s stretched resources that we are not capitalising on.” | Several senior MPs spoke in favour of extending action to Syria. Sir Richard Ottaway, the Tory chairman of the Commons foreign affairs select committee, said: “The border between Syria and Iraq has virtually disappeared. It is a seamless conflict over two countries covering thousands of miles and presenting a vulnerability in Isis’s stretched resources that we are not capitalising on.” |
| An Isis militant fires a heavy machine gun during fighting near the threatened city of Kobane (AFP) Kenneth Clarke, the former Conservative Cabinet minister, said: “The legal case for intervention in Iraq is clear with its Government’s inviting us, and I think it is pretty clear in Syria because of the genocide and the humanitarian disasters being inflicted on that country.” | An Isis militant fires a heavy machine gun during fighting near the threatened city of Kobane (AFP) Kenneth Clarke, the former Conservative Cabinet minister, said: “The legal case for intervention in Iraq is clear with its Government’s inviting us, and I think it is pretty clear in Syria because of the genocide and the humanitarian disasters being inflicted on that country.” |
| Peter Hain, the former Labour Cabinet minister, said: “Isis will never be defeated if it is constantly allowed to regroup from its Syrian bases. Without either UN or Syrian Government authorisation, air strikes in Syria may be illegal, although there could well be justification under international law for such strikes, even without UN agreement.” | Peter Hain, the former Labour Cabinet minister, said: “Isis will never be defeated if it is constantly allowed to regroup from its Syrian bases. Without either UN or Syrian Government authorisation, air strikes in Syria may be illegal, although there could well be justification under international law for such strikes, even without UN agreement.” |
| Sir Menzies Campbell, the former Liberal Democrat leader, said: “The very factors that justify intervention in Iraq would be of equal weight in relation to Syria. Those are, to put it briefly, the barbarism that is being displayed, and the fact that regional stability is being heavily undermined.” | Sir Menzies Campbell, the former Liberal Democrat leader, said: “The very factors that justify intervention in Iraq would be of equal weight in relation to Syria. Those are, to put it briefly, the barbarism that is being displayed, and the fact that regional stability is being heavily undermined.” |
| But Frank Dobson, another former Labour cabinet minister, warned: “I am concerned about the ease with which, when some people talk, they slip seamlessly from Iraq to Syria. When people talk about getting involved in Syria, they are talking about sending young people from our country to a place where they will not have the faintest idea who they are supposed to be fighting.” | But Frank Dobson, another former Labour cabinet minister, warned: “I am concerned about the ease with which, when some people talk, they slip seamlessly from Iraq to Syria. When people talk about getting involved in Syria, they are talking about sending young people from our country to a place where they will not have the faintest idea who they are supposed to be fighting.” |
| Dennis Skinner, the veteran left-wing Labour MP, said: “There are two questions the Prime Minister has not put to himself: how long will this war last and when will mission creep start?” | Dennis Skinner, the veteran left-wing Labour MP, said: “There are two questions the Prime Minister has not put to himself: how long will this war last and when will mission creep start?” |
| Prime Minister David Cameron speaking about military action against IS in the House of Commons (PA) John Baron, a Conservative MP who voted against action in Iraq, argued: “Without the Iraqi army being able to take and hold ground, there is a real risk that air strikes alone will not only prove ineffective but could become counterproductive, especially if civilian casualties mount and Isis spins the story that it has withstood the might of the west and held its ground, which it has so far managed to do?” | Prime Minister David Cameron speaking about military action against IS in the House of Commons (PA) John Baron, a Conservative MP who voted against action in Iraq, argued: “Without the Iraqi army being able to take and hold ground, there is a real risk that air strikes alone will not only prove ineffective but could become counterproductive, especially if civilian casualties mount and Isis spins the story that it has withstood the might of the west and held its ground, which it has so far managed to do?” |
| Winding up the debate, Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister, said: “There are times when it is simply impossible to reason with your foe. We must act – we do so mindful of the mistakes and lessons of the past.” | Winding up the debate, Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister, said: “There are times when it is simply impossible to reason with your foe. We must act – we do so mindful of the mistakes and lessons of the past.” |
| The Danish Government is sending seven F-16 fighter jets to take part in airstrikes in Iraq - one more plane than Britain, reinforcing the impression that the UK’s involvement is largely symbolic. Belgium is sending six F-16 fighters. | The Danish Government is sending seven F-16 fighter jets to take part in airstrikes in Iraq - one more plane than Britain, reinforcing the impression that the UK’s involvement is largely symbolic. Belgium is sending six F-16 fighters. |